Her Last Steps

A Psychological Suspense Thriller

By: N.L. Hinkens

Narrated by: Julie Niblett

Length: 7 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Trust no one when your daughter goes missing.

On a frigid winter morning near her cabin, Ava Galbraith’s four-year-old daughter vanishes without a trace in the snow. Local sheriff, Mallory Anderson, focuses his initial investigation on Ava and her estranged husband, Gordon, embroiled in a bitter custody battle. But when Ava receives a ransom demand for half-a-million dollars, the race to find four-year-old Melanie takes on a more ominous tone. With the FBI on board, disturbing secrets begin to emerge connecting both Ava and her husband to a murky past. A remote cabin in the woods may hold some desperately needed answers, but time is ticking down to complete the ransom drop-off and save Melanie from the one person who wants her dead.

Who is the real mastermind behind the abduction?

Fasten your seatbelt for a tense domestic thriller with a heart-pounding pace!

Will you enjoy Her Last Steps? If you listen to any of my favorite psychological and domestic suspense thriller authors including K.L. Slater, Shalini Boland, Adam Croft, Kathryn Croft, Louise Jensen, or Rachel Caine, the answer is a resounding yes!

©2019 Norma L Hinkens (P)2020 Norma L Hinkens

This one kept me on my toes

Her Last Steps written by N. L. Hinkens in this thriller Ava & her daughter Melanie visit their cabin for the last time to collect their stuff in preparation for Ava & Gordon Galraith’s divorce. Ava takes some time to capture a few pictures in the snow but suddenly realize that Melanie is missing. Ava was in a panic looking for Melanie, but she couldn’t find her. Ava seeks help from Mallory the local sheriff, after the FBI and search parties got involved Ava received a ransom demand. A lot of things from the past come to light during this investigation, will Mallory be able to save Melanie?

This was the first book I’ve heard narrated by Julie Niblett and I think she did a great job with all the voices both female and male. I enjoyed the constant suspense, the story kept me thinking about what was going to happen next. This book allowed me to put myself in the shoes of a detective in order to try and find out what was truth from lie. I was able to predict a few things but a lot of the things that happened took me by surprise. The book ends with a good twist and brought a lot of the things I thought about to light.

I received this book via Promo and I’m happy that I got the opportunity to read it. The narrator did a great job and the author did a great job keeping my interest in the book. The book wasn’t too short or long, surprisingly it didn’t feel too drawn out. The author did a good job developing the characters, I felt like a had a good feel for them. I enjoy a good thriller that isn’t too predictable and that is exactly what this book was for me.

Thrilling listen!

This was a domestic thriller that completely surprised me and backhanded me right across my judgmental face! I went in to this knowing it was a kidnapping mystery but not expecting what was to come, I assumed I would be reading the "cookie cutter" domestic story of divorce, and although it is a story of divorce, Hinkens knocks your socks off with this enticing story of investigation and betrayal with its scandal, turns, and its unending twists. I am very happy to have been given the opportunity to listen to this story; it was real, engaging and exciting to read. If you like thrillers or mysteries, check this one out, you won't regret it

[Thank you N.L. Hinkens for the free audiobook]

Loved it! Gripping story with incredible narration

There are so many twists and turns to this story that it will definitely keep you guessing. You won’t be able to stop listening! You'll want to hear just a little more...but it’s impossible to resist and will keep you hanging onto every word! Just when you think you’ve figured it out, you’ll be shocked by more twists and turns. The characters all want the same thing - the safe return of the 4 year old little girl - but they all have secrets and skeletons in their closets that they definitely don’t want revealed. One little misstep, and everything they’ve carefully constructed could all be for nothing. The mother and father are at the beginning stages of a divorce, so the mother and her daughter go to the soon to be ex husbands cabin so the wife can get her personal belongings since it will go to her husband after the divorce. While out enjoying the scenery and snowy area, within moments, the 4 year old daughter is suddenly gone, without a trace. Was it a planned kidnapping by the distraught mother in an attempt to get ransom money from her soon to be ex husband, especially since everyone knows she will struggle financially after the divorce? Or did she do it because she wants sole custody of her daughter and is trying to make it as if she’s been kidnapped so that they could possibly vanish together and never have to worry about the ex husband? Or was it the angry father who blames his wife for everything, is mad about the money she will be granted in the divorce, and is furious about having to pay the half a million dollar ransom? Not the mention, if the wife coordinated the kidnapping then he’ll be handing over the money to her, even if it’s not directly. If he staged the kidnapping though and he pays half a million dollars ransom, obviously he’ll be able to justify paying her less in the divorce, so is he trying to ensure she gets less money by staging the kidnapping and ransom payment? Was it the husbands mother (the little girls grandmother) as an attempt to save and protect her son and granddaughter? Are the elderly neighbors as oblivious and naive as they appear to be? Don’t forget about the husband’s mistress who he just ended his affair with. She’s been in love with him since high school, and wanted a better life than what she has with her husband, the sherif who is in charge of the investigation. Would she be so desperate that she’d do something that drastic to get the husbands attention? The sherif even admits that his marriage is lousy, but halfway attempts to keep the marriage alive...but he knows everyone has secrets they want to keep hidden and that they all have sincere AND ulterior motives. The author created fantastic characters, and the narrator did an incredible job bringing them to life! She portrayed each of the characters perfectly by creating different vocals, emotional expressions, and temperaments for each character. She brought the characters and story to life! It was as if you were listening to an ensemble of people, rather than just one narrator. The author and narrator were a perfect combination! I highly recommend this book based on the author AND the narrator! Thank you for the free audiobook to review. I have left my honest review voluntarily. What a fantastic thrill ride of a story and listening experience!

N.L. HInkens at her best!

I thought after reading/listening to eleven of N. L. Hinkens psychological thrillers I knew enough about her writing to predict the villain in Her Last Step. Sure, my predictions took the same trajectory as a losing gambler until I stopped and just let the story take me to the answer. Her last Steps contains so many loose threads you could swear it was falling apart, until you realize the loose ends are only around the edges and they all come together into a well-crafted thriller that will leave you not just entertained, but feeling like you still aren’t prepared to predict where this author is going to take you in her stories. I listened to the audiobook version of Her Last Steps narrated by Julie Niblett. This is the first time I’ve listened to Julie narrate a story and I can state emphatically it is not going to be the last time. She took an excellent story and elevated it by bringing each character to life through their unique voices and attitudes.

Dragged A Bit...

This story got kind of convoluted and boring. Also, the narrator often seemed to have a condescending tone to her voice. Halfway through the book, I skipped to the final 3 chapters just to find out what happened to Melanie and Ava.

Her last steps

This was a very good book!I could hardly keep up with who was doing what.A child goes missing.The parents are getting divorced so that is suspicious. Did the parents set up having their daughter kidnapped?This one is too twisted to guess. Julie Niblett was a very good narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Her Last Steps

A terrifying situation for all parents to have to go through but this one has so many twists and turns that you really don’t know which way is up until the end. I loved this book so much that I wasn’t able to put it down and listened to it all in one go. Amazing writing with really great narration. As this was my first book from this author, I will be looking for others in the future.

3.5 stars

Good story, just too slow for me. I felt at times I was struggling to keep my mind on the story. I was waiting on the intrigue and suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat but it never came. I enjoyed the characters and as I said the story was good. Nothing spectacular, but good. The narrator done a really good job.

I Loved every second of this thriller!

Wowzer! This is such a unexpected story. I went on some twists and turns and EVERYTIME I thought I knew what was going on....I was WRONG! This story and these characters are all so intertwined it’s hard to know which way is up half the time. i loved it though....every second!

The characters are fascinating. Their ability to lie, cheat and steal just blows my mind. The only person I really feel sorry for is the Sheriff. He has the job of his lifetime with this case.

This is a book that I will be recommending to anyone who will listen. I did listen to this on audio and Julie Niblett did a great job with all her different voices.

Awesome story

I listened to this book in one day. Awesome story couldn’t figure out why the mom did what she did but it all came together in the end. Dad and grandma were evil but the policeman’s wife!!! Was the worse. All the players in this story. Just wow.
I received this free for an honest review from the author or narrator.